[Illustration:  KENILWORTH CASTLE, LEICESTER BUILDINGS AND CAESAR’S TOWER.]

Sir Walter describes the preparations for the feast and the heterogeneous nature of the crowd of people who attended it.  The resources of the country for miles round were taxed to their utmost, for not only the queen’s purveyors, but the Earl of Leicester’s household officers had been scouring it in all directions to provide the necessary viands and provisions.  The services in this respect of all the leading families had been requisitioned, and—­

They took this opportunity of ingratiating themselves by sending large quantities of provisions and delicacies of all kinds, with game in huge quantities, and whole tuns of the best liquors, foreign and domestic.  Thus the high-roads were filled with droves of bullocks, sheep, calves and hogs, and choked with loaded wains, whose axle-trees creaked under their burdens of wine-casks and hogsheads of ale, and huge hampers of grocery goods, and slaughtered game, and salted provisions, and sacks of flour.  Perpetual stoppages took place as these wains became entangled; and their rude drivers, swearing and brawling till their wild passions were fully raised, began to debate precedence with their wagon-whips and quarter-staves, which occasional riots were usually quieted by a purveyor, deputy-marshal’s man, or some other person in authority breaking the heads of both parties.  Here were, besides, players and mummers, jugglers and showmen, of every description, traversing in joyous bands the paths which led to the Palace of Princely Pleasure; for so the travelling minstrels had termed Kenilworth in the songs which already had come forth in anticipation of the revels, which were there expected.  In the midst of this motley show, mendicants were exhibiting their real or pretended miseries, forming a strange though common contrast betwixt the vanities and the sorrows of human existence.  All these floated along with the immense tide of population, whom mere curiosity had drawn together; and where the mechanic, in his leathern apron, elbowed the dink and dainty dame, his city mistress; where clowns with hobnailed shoes were treading on the kibes of substantial burghers and gentlemen of worship; and where Joan of the dairy, with robust pace and red sturdy arms, rowed her way onwards, amongst those prim and pretty moppets, whose sires were knights and squires.  The throng and confusion was, however, of a gay and cheerful character.  All came forth to see and to enjoy, and all laughed at the trifling inconveniences which at another time might have chafed their temper.  Excepting the occasional brawls we have mentioned among that irritable race the Carmen, the mingled sounds which arose from the multitude were those of light-hearted mirth and tiptoe jollity.  The musicians preluded on their instruments—­the minstrels hummed their songs—­the licensed jester whooped betwixt mirth and madness, as he brandished his